Playoff Tune-In Tidbits: Friday, April 27, 2018

04/27/2018 at 03:04pm

Friday features a trio of Game 6s as the Raptors, Cavaliers and Jazz have a chance to close out these first round series and advance to the conference semifinals. Can the Wizards, Pacers and Thunder stay alive and force Game 7s? Here are five stats to watch in each of Friday’s games.

DeMar DeRozan has had more success in his matchup with Otto Porter Jr. than he has against Kelly Oubre Jr. In 151 possessions against Porter, DeRozan has 52 points on 47.6% shooting (including 5-9 from three) to go with 12 assists and 4 turnovers. In 85 possessions against Oubre, he has 29 points on 40% shooting (including 0-4 from three) to go with just 3 assists and 4 turnovers.

The Jazz lead all playoff teams in wide-open shots – attempts with the closest defender at least 6 feet away – with 25.0 per game. That is nearly double what the Jazz have allowed to the Thunder (13.6 per game). However, the Jazz have failed to take full advantage of these opportunities as they have shot just 38.4% (3rd lowest in playoffs) on their wide-open looks.

Russell Westbrook became just the 3rd player to ever post 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff game (joining LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain). Since the 1983-84 season, there have been 18 such games in the regular season and playoffs. Westbrook accounts for four of those 18 games; only Michael Jordan had more than one such game in the past 34 years.